Kentucky Afield

On this episode of the podcast we're joined by Tommy Apostolopoulos, a deer biologist with KDFWR. Archery season has arrived, and most of Kentucky's best deer hunting is right around the corner! Tommy walks us through some changes that are in place for the 2026 season, gives us insights into deer management that's taking place across the state, and shares some personal experiences and insights as well. Good luck to all of the deer hunters this season...Hunt smart and stay safe!

On this episode of the Kentucky Afield Podcast we're at the 2026 KY State Fair! We bounced around the KDFWR booth, talked briefly to a variety of guest from the agency, and also chatted with podcast listeners and others from the public. Some of the highlights were finding out everyone's favorite fair activity, their favorite outdoor memory, hearing about what's going on in the outdoors from a biologist and a game warden, and also reliving a fun elk hunting story told by a former Navy SEAL. Recording this episode was a ton of fun... Speaking to a variety of people and never knowing what was going to come up kept us on our toes. Thanks for listening! Guest included: Lorraine Leveronne Hannah Edelen Jay Stone Marcy Anderson Alex Cline Rich Storm Sgt. Jason Wells Aaron Reed Geoff Roberts

On this episode of the Kentucky Afield Podcast we're joined by Nathan Brooks, who's not only an avid outdoorsman, but also an Assistant Director in the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife's IEM division. Nathan oversees the TV show, magazine, website, press releases, and hunting guides... So he knows what's going on! We're talking about the upcoming fall hunting seasons, things that are new for this year (including over 30 counties seeing a change in deer zones), and previewing opportunities at the fast-approaching Kentucky State Fair.

There’s no shortage of opinions, questions and misconceptions when it comes to wild pigs — so we’re tackling them head-on in this episode of the Kentucky Afield Podcast. KDFWR Wild Pig Biologist Terri Brunjes joins KDFWR Social Media Manager Ashlynn Trevino to talk about Kentucky’s wild pig eradication efforts, the progress that’s been made, why the program takes the approach it does and what the future looks like. Ashlynn also brings some of the most common questions and comments we’ve seen from people across social media, giving Terri the chance to separate fact from fiction when it comes to wild pigs in Kentucky. And if you’ve ever wondered what happens after you report seeing a wild pig or finding pig sign, Terri explains how that information helps her crew track down and remove these invasive animals. 🎧 Give it a listen and get the real story on wild pigs in Kentucky.

As deer season approaches, there's no better time to learn how your harvest can make a real difference. This week, we're joined by Roger Lapointe and Tom Waters of Kentucky Hunters for the Hungry to discuss one of Kentucky's most impactful conservation and outreach programs. Coming off a record-breaking year, Kentucky Hunters for the Hungry accepted nearly 5,000 donated deer and helped provide roughly 800,000 meals to families in need across the Commonwealth. With expanded deer hunting opportunities in Zone 1 counties this season, the potential to help even more Kentuckians has never been greater—but it all depends on hunters stepping up to participate. Roger and Tom explain exactly how the program works, how simple it is to donate a harvested deer at no cost to the hunter, and why those donations benefit far more than just the recipients. Deer donations help manage overabundant deer populations, reduce agricultural damage, lessen deer-vehicle collisions, and support healthier deer herds throughout Kentucky. Whether you've donated before or are hearing about the program for the first time, this episode will show you how one deer can have an incredible impact on your community.